Review rated by 2 Ciao members on average: helpful
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In Magician, Raymond Feist lays the groundwork for a fascinating series of novels, with broad scope, interesting characters, and a deeper level of detail than many fantasy works. However, particularly in this first and foundational novel, the plot is relatively slow and the characters are as yet undeveloped. It is the knowledge of the rest of the series awaiting which allays this somewhat, since much of the material (especially in the author's Preferred Edition) is necessary for the more enjoyable tales of the next three volumes. As an aside note, it is when I take into account not only the Riftwar saga as such, but also the subsequent books set in Midkemia, and the "Empire" series, co-authored by Feist and Janny Wurts, that the real richness of the Midkemian Universe becomes evident. While the Tsurani culture borrows heavily from oriental culture, and many aspects of the topography and political nature of the Midkemian world are not developed (especially the Empire of Great Kesh, which is given very short shrift in all but one of the books), all in all the descriptions of the Valheru legacy, the world of Kelewan and it's vicious political organization, the interesting discourses on the arts magical, and the later development of characters such as Jimmy the Hand, Arutha, and Tomas give the series a vast sense of the heroic combined with occasional gripping scenes of reality.
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05.08.2006 16:27
Not a bad review but could do with some more information about the book.